Local attendees excited about inauguration

Presidential Inauguration 2009

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January 17, 2009

Anonymous The Meridian Star Sat Jan 17, 2009, 11:59 PM CST

By Jennifer Jacob Brown

jjacob@themeridianstar.com

The event of the decade is happening this week — and a few lucky East Mississippi residents will get to go.

Some, like Meridian's Frances Roscoe, will take a daylong trip on a bus to watch the swearing-in, then get back on the bus and drive all the way back.

People from all over the world will crowd Washington, D.C., this week for the inauguration of our country's first black president. Roscoe is just happy she — along with 45 other locals — will be there, even if they won't get to stay long.

Roscoe is leading a local group on the bus tour. She has been all over the world and visited sites of grand historical significance, but this is the first time she will watch history as it happens.

"I'm so excited about this one because it is something that is history," she said. "I never thought that I would live to see a black man become president of the United States. It's just amazing. It's just an exciting time. This is so very special."

Roscoe, an independent tour coordinator, is leading the travel group of 45, 17 of whom are students from York High School in York, Ala. She said when she first put out flyers advertising the trip, the response was so enormous that she thought she'd have to book a second bus.

The group will leave for Washington Monday at noon, making short pit stops at rest areas along the way. In order to make it to Washington on time, Roscoe said they may not even stop for food.

She said the group is so excited about the inauguration, they'll likely barely notice the discomforts of the almost non-stop trip.

Local student heading north

Lauderdale County student Haley Parker is also going to the inauguration. Parker, a 14-year-old ninth grader at West Lauderdale School, was selected from a group of outstanding students to attend the inauguration as part of the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference.

Parker was nominated for the parent organization, Congressional Youth Leadership Council, by one of her teachers. She is an accomplished student, and will be attending the inauguration with her mom, Cathy.

She said the inauguration is something she will probably remember for the rest of her life. "Just seeing history being made and the fact that not a lot of people my age get to do this," is exciting, she said.

Roscoe may not be 14 years old, but she's at least as excited as Parker.

"I just want to be there to be breathing some of the air that he's breathing," she said. "Everybody is excited about this inauguration."

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Presidential Inauguration 2009

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The roar from a sea of people that stretched as far back as the Lincoln Memorial, despite temperatures in the teens, echoed in waves back to the steps of the Capitol each time Obama's image appeared on massive television screens throughout the National Mall.
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Despite the many differences easily visible through the crowds, their commonalities seemed far more obvious.

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Couple readies for inauguration While Richard Kelly is witnessing America’s first African-American president taking office Tuesday, the Meridian man’s thoughts will go back to 1964.

Kelly was 10 years old, and those leading a fledgling push for civil rights were registering black voters. Kelly was there, in Meridian’s First Union Baptist Church on 38th Avenue, when civil rights workers sought refuge in the house of worship. His most vivid memory: James Chaney and Michael Schwerner hiding out in the church's attic.

"They weren't sleeping, they were on watch," Kelly said.
January 18, 2009 3 Photos
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Historic moment reminder of civil rights work Small towns are often known by the celebrities, athletes and the war heroes they produce -- their names emblazoned on streets, buildings and parks; tales of their success fodder for coffee shop conversations.
January 18, 2009
Local attendees excited about inauguration The event of the decade is happening this week — and a few lucky East Mississippi residents will get to go.

Some, like Meridian's Frances Roscoe, will take a daylong trip on a bus to watch the swearing-in, then get back on the bus and drive all the way back.
January 17, 2009 1 Photo

Presidential Inauguration 2009

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